Published: Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 7:07 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 7:07 a.m.

Pardee Hospital isn't just changing its logo to reflect its partnership with UNC Health Care System, hospital officials said Wednesday. Pardee is also changing its culture.

Last June, Pardee and UNC agreed to a 10-year managerial agreement, and just two weeks ago, Pardee rolled out a new logo with UNC Health on its brand.

At the hospital's monthly board of directors meeting Wednesday afternoon, officials said they also have initiated an employee-centered program that includes employee training, measures to improve patient satisfaction and methods for recruiting new team members.

Representatives from each of Pardee's departments formed a group called the Fire Starters a few months ago, and they serve on a committee to identify performance expectations of the organization, said Hope Reynolds, vice president of human relations and service excellence at Pardee.

The group has rolled out the expectations to about 560 employees over the past few weeks, she said.

After developing the new standards, the committee created what they call "pillars" to enhance the organization's performance. The pillars include patient satisfaction, quality care, economic growth and the desire to be the provider of choice in Henderson County.

The ACTIONS initiative has already been implemented in employee orientation, Kirby said.

"This will be something we will hold each other accountable to," he said. "Accountability sows the seeds of change in an organization, and those seeds have been sown and now it's our job to cultivate what's been planted by these leaders (Fire Starters) and grow throughout this organization."

<p>Pardee Hospital isn't just changing its logo to reflect its partnership with UNC Health Care System, hospital officials said Wednesday. Pardee is also changing its culture.</p><p>Last June, Pardee and UNC agreed to a 10-year managerial agreement, and just two weeks ago, Pardee rolled out a new logo with UNC Health on its brand.</p><p>At the hospital's monthly board of directors meeting Wednesday afternoon, officials said they also have initiated an employee-centered program that includes employee training, measures to improve patient satisfaction and methods for recruiting new team members.</p><p>"I believe this begins with engaged team members," Pardee CEO Jay Kirby said.</p><p>Representatives from each of Pardee's departments formed a group called the Fire Starters a few months ago, and they serve on a committee to identify performance expectations of the organization, said Hope Reynolds, vice president of human relations and service excellence at Pardee.</p><p>Now, the Fire Starters have compiled a list of standards for employees they call ACTIONS — Attitude, Compassion, Teamwork, Intercommunication, Ownership, Neat Appearance and Sincere Customer Attention.</p><p>"Actions speak louder than words," Reynolds said. </p><p>The group has rolled out the expectations to about 560 employees over the past few weeks, she said.</p><p>After developing the new standards, the committee created what they call "pillars" to enhance the organization's performance. The pillars include patient satisfaction, quality care, economic growth and the desire to be the provider of choice in Henderson County. </p><p>The ACTIONS initiative has already been implemented in employee orientation, Kirby said.</p><p>"This will be something we will hold each other accountable to," he said. "Accountability sows the seeds of change in an organization, and those seeds have been sown and now it's our job to cultivate what's been planted by these leaders (Fire Starters) and grow throughout this organization."</p><p>Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.</p>